How fast can a gorilla run?

How Fast Can They Really Run?

Gorillas can sprint at speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph).

Imagine a giant weighing between 136 to 227 kg (300 to 500 lbs) coming towards you at that speed — it’s a sight to behold.

This kind of explosive power is particularly remarkable given that gorillas are not built like cheetahs or lions. They are solid, muscular, and heavy, yet capable of moving at speeds comparable to that of a trained human sprinter. This is amazing, isn’t it?

Why Do Gorillas Run?

While gorillas aren’t known for chasing down prey, they may be seen running for specific reasons.

• One primary reason is to assert dominance or display aggression. When a gorilla (especially a silverback) perceives a threat, it may charge forward at full speed in a display of power, arrogance with a particular aim of intimidating rather than attackking. This is called a bluff charge — a tactic used to scare away intruders or rival males.
• Running also serves a defensive purpose. Although they are immensely strong, gorillas can still be vulnerable to certain predators, like leopards, or to human threats. In such cases, running becomes a way to escape danger or guide their family to safety.

How Do Gorillas Run?

Unlike most animals that sprint upright or on four legs, gorillas have a unique running style known as knuckle-walking. This involves moving on all fours while balancing their weight on their knuckles and feet. When running at full speed, they lean forward, using both their powerful arms and legs to propel themselves forward in powerful bursts.

Despite their large size, gorillas are incredibly agile. Their long arms and strong legs allow them to navigate through dense forests quickly, making them surprisingly adept at manoeuvring through rough terrain.

Silverback gorilla Knuckle-walking (Image from istock)

Gorillas are built for raw power, not distance

When it comes to gorillas, they have built muscles over mileage. A silverback may weigh 180-200 kg, most of it lean mass concentrated across chest and arms. Those proportions generate immense torque for climbing and wrestling but burn oxygen quickly.

Knuckle-walking leverage. Running on all fours lets gorillas launch with arm strength equal to leg drive. The long forelimbs plant first, vaulting the body forward like a living catapult.

Flexible spines. Though they seem barrel-chested, gorillas flex at the waist with surprising range, allowing sudden directional changes in dense forest where a straight sprint would end against a trunk.